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My Review:Title: Destiny's Embrace
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Series: Destiny #1
Published by: Avon
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Format: ebook
Pages: 384
Genres: Historical Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Source: Overdrive
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 Diversity Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's Can You Read a Series March 2022
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound
My rating:
Blurb:Gentleman Seeks Housekeeper. Must be willing to travel.
Desperate for another life away from Philadelphia, headstrong and beautiful Mariah Cooper answers an advertisement for a housekeeper at the other end of the continent. Waiting in California is the most breathtaking—and arrogant—man she has ever met...and he'd like nothing better than for Mariah to go back home!
Logan Yates has run Destiny, the family ranch, since he was a boy. He doesn't need this Eastern miss his stepmother hired, though his home's chaotic state suggests otherwise. Still, he's secretly pleased that Mariah gives as good as she gets—and he must fight the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her whenever she proudly stands her ground. But when he's in danger of losing her, Logan will have to choose between pride...and his heart's true desire.
4.5 stars — Well that was fucking delightful. It brought me back to when I first discovered romance books, and how easy it was to fall in love with characters and a romance.
Mariah had so many elements of my favourite kinds of heroines, and I absolutely adored her. I ached for what she went through in the first part of her life, and how that had shaped her. I cheered when she finally relied on someone who wanted to be fighting in her corner. And DUDE — new Mariah was da bomb. I loved how feisty she was, and how when she finally decided she wasn’t going to take anymore abuse, she became a warrior in a tiny body. I LOVED watching her come into her own. And OMG, I loved watching her challenge Logan.
Logan had a bit of a stereotypical old school hero vibe to him, and while his arrogance could be frustrating, it did make it that much more satisfying to see Mariah bring him to his knees. I loved how much he cared for his family and his ranch. I loved that he had his own feisty nature, mixed with a good sense of humour.
I loved the two of them together — how they challenged one another to sort of figure out their boundaries…and how they continued to challenge one another, but in the best ways. And wow, they definitely had a connection once they gave in to that fire. I appreciated that while Logan may have done some light seducing, I didn’t feel as though he wouldn’t have listened to her if she’d wanted to stop.
So many fantastic secondary characters to love. I really appreciated that Alanza got her own POV at times — especially since I hope that she has her own background story that will develop over the trilogy. She was strong, but so kind and loving. She was the mother that Mariah needed.
While we only got a glimpse of the brothers, I’m definitely looking forward to their stories. Eli was also delightful, and I really want his story as well…I wonder if it exists. And I loved Aunt Libby and Kaye, even though their parts were small.
I’ve only recently branched into historical romance, but thus far I’ve mostly only read books set in the UK. I loved getting a different kind of historical romance in this one, particularly getting a glimpse of people I had never taken the time to think of before (ie black communities after the civil war). I feel like I learned little bits here and there (Queen Calafia!), but mostly it was just nice to contemplate lives other than the usual white ones we hear about.
I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Jenkins books, not just the rest of this trilogy — I can see why she’s considered a queen of romance.
I feel very under-educated about black communities after the Civil War. It would be delightful to learn from a historical romance.